A/N: Hello lovely people! I have an update for you…

I'm jumping forward in time slightly and have made a change to the dynamic of Gruvia – you can reread the previous chapter as I have edited it to ensure it makes sense or you can leave it! It won't really make a difference.

Happy Reading!

The Town in the Mist

"Well there's no use crying about it, idiot." Levy screamed after Gajeel whose hulking form staggered away along the train carriage, very nearly crushing some of the remaining passengers who looked on, trembling in horror, at the ruckus the Fairy Tail mages were making.

The blunette was on her knees, leaning over the back of her seat and shaking her fists at the snarling dragon slayer whose motion sickness threatened to knock him off his feet.

"I ain't crying Shrimp!" He snarled over his shoulder, as he swayed off through the door with Pantherlily at his back attempting to stop him falling on top of some innocent traveller.

"Tell that to-" Levy began to shout but paused when Pantherlily patted her hand.

"Please Levy, leave him be." The dark furred exceed pleaded, having been privy to their previous argument that had led to this.

"You're my cat! Stop siding with the –" His sentence was also cut short. His studded face turned green and he looked as if he might heave - Levy smirked and hoped he would throw up all over himself. Although unfortunately he made it through the door and into the other carriage. She cringed upon hearing him roar something unintelligible and knew it would have probably chased the passengers in there away too. At this rate they'd all be cramped into the one carriage to escape the wrath of the mages.

"Eugh!" Levy turned back around and shrank down into her chair with her arms wrapped around her. She barely even registered the chaos caused by her other teammates as she envisioned herself in her Golem form beating the crap out of that stupid iron cry baby. That seemed to get her breathing back to normal momentarily until she was assaulted by a flying Lucy.

"Lu-chan?" Levy exclaimed, grabbing at her arm to pull her the right way up.

"I'm so sorry Levy!" She looked starry eyed as she also tried to right herself.

"Luce! I'm sorry Luce!" Called Natsu, his eyes wide and face as green as Gajeels had been. He looked as if he wanted to tumble over despite the fact that five seconds ago he had managed to wrap his hands around Grays neck without much trouble.

"You idiot flamebrain!" Lucy screeched as scrambled out of Levy's lap. "I was only trying to stop you doing something stupid! I'm going to get Erza" Her face was dangerously serious but that did not deter Gray, who smacked Natsu on the back of his pink head, seemingly knocking him out. Lucy bolted forward. "Gray!"

"At least you don't have to get Erza!" He turned away from where Lucy had arrived at Natsu's passed out body, pulling his head onto her lap and poking his face asking if he was alright. All this despited the fact that he had thrown her across the room when she had tried to stop him killing Gray.

"I don't think this is going to be a very good trip." Wendy whispered, her face buried in Carla's snowy white fur. Levy smiled sympathetically over at the girl whose poor choice of where to sit had put her in the firing line.

"Now where were we?" Gray stalked forward somewhat menacingly towards where Juvia was seated. It was those two who had started this all in the first place.

"Juvia has nothing to say to you. You are unreasonable when you're like this." She sat primly with the uncomfortable Wendy to her left.

"Like what, Juvia? Trying to have a fucking conversation?" He stood over her, half enraged and half desperate – an unusual combination for the ice mage. "I don't get why you're acting so..." The blue haired water mage scoffed and turned her head away from him.

"Juvia does not think you ever tried talking to her before. And Juvia does not owe you - or anybody - her time!" With this she jumped up and pushed past the ice mage to find a seat further up the carriage, hopping over an unconscious Natsu. Wendy breathed a sigh of relief that made Levy giggle quietly.

"Leave her alone, would you Gray? Like Natsu said – if she doesn't want to talk to you then 'fuck off!'" Lucy was petting his hair like she would Happy sometimes. It was adorable to watch.

"And that's why I punched his face." He said coolly, as he also stepped over Natsu. He sat down across from Juvia – but this time he did not speak. She pulled her legs up to her chest and hid her face in her knees turning away from him slightly. "I'm sorry, you know." He told her, shrugging.

"Juvia doesn't believe you." Came her muffled reply.

The mood of the carriage shifted as everyone fell awkwardly silent. This was getting too real.

"Levy?" Came Wendy's small voice causing the fellow blunette to raise her head though she could see Wendy chewing on her lip as if reluctant to be heard.

"What's up Wendy?" She smiled serenely, now feeling peaceful due to the exit of Gajeel.

"I think you should go talk to Gajeel." She met Levy's wide eyes uncertainly and though Levy was hurt and slightly ofended – she would never dream of showing Wendy that.

"Wendy, I told you how much of a jerk he was the other day…" The blunette kept her expression even. She never anticipated that little Wendy would be siding with Gajeel. That's also kind of what had gotten everyone riled up before.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. It's just that… I think he maybe…" She trailed off and Levy shook her head slowly.

"No Wendy, please don't. He's just a big meanie and I can't let myself fall back into that old routine." She huffed and stared out the windows as the countryside flew by.

"He's grown just as much as you have Levy-san. You can't underestimate the power you have to hurt him" This time it was Juvia who spoke. And to her words Levy paid heed. She had always been close to the brute since their Phantom Lord days.

"I don't… Please don't say things like that Juvia." She'd thought they all understood. But maybe it was levy herself that needed to understand.

"Juvia is on your side Levy. You'll be happier if you sort this out." Levy could see torment in the water mages blue eyes. Levy sighed. Juvia was an old hand when it came to stormy relationships.

"I think I kind of agree with Juvia, Levy. Gajeel's a huge butt and all, but you won't have much fun on this trip if you don't stop attacking each other…" Lucy offered as she and Happy seemed to be dragging Natsu onto one of the seats. "Maybe it would be best to talk things through."

"I think maybe… you didn't really think about Gajeel's side of things." Wendy sounded like she was trembling as she said this and it made Levy feel terrible. Perhaps all the fighting and harsh words had distracted her from Gajeel's feelings. But he had been so hurtful. She cast her mind back to the morning after her and the iron dragon slayers sleepover and shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Yeah, well sometimes it isn't easy to see someone else's side when they've said such hateful things." Her voice cracked at the end and she bit her lip. Feelings were hard.

"It doesn't seem fair Levy when you're always being the bigger person – but he's family. And I don't think he'll be the one to move forward. He's more of a revel in the pain kind of guy…" Lucy spoke in a soft and cajoling manner that only the glue that held Fairy Tail together could manage. The blonde was right – she needed to talk things through with him.

"Yeah, cut the guy some slack." Gray called out brutishly earning him a glare from Juvia.

"Be quiet Gray-sa-!" She cut herself off and blushed furiously before she slunk down in her seat. Levy caught Grays hopeful expression as she moved towards the door leading to the other train car to find Gajeel.

"Can you believe this is how we've all ended up?" Levy paused and called out before she made her way into the other cart. Everyone was spread out on different parts of the train avoiding eye contact with one another.

"Familie's are crazy." Gray sighed nonchalantly. "But if you're still willing to go to Gajeel after everything… There's hope for the rest of us, right?" With that he closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the seat. Levy caught Juvia's watery smile as she finally pushed the door open and entered the other carriage where for some reason she couldn't see the Iron Dragon Slayer.

"Gajeel?" She called out, tugging at one of her sleeves nervously. Perhaps he had moved further away down the train. "Pantherlily?" The Exceed, who was still definitely friendly towards her, did not answer either.

Levy surveyed the empty carriage once more and walked hesitantly forward, her slow steps making delicate clip clops along the floor.

"Nghhh…" Levy's head snapped to the left where she heard Gajeel's familiar groan and hurried forward. She found him collapsed in a heap between a group of 6 seats. His body looked contorted and uncomfortable and Lily was nowhere to be found. Levy's expression softened as she looked down at him with his eyes tightly shut and his mouth half sneering as if he might waken and take a bite out of someone. He looked to be trembling slightly as well.

She knelt down beside his head and exhaled. "What am I going to do with you, iron breath." She smoothed down his hair, letting her hand linger near his face when suddenly his eyes snapped open and he seemed to jump into the air.

She let out a squeal as he rattled his head on the ceiling before collapsing backwards onto the seats.

"The hell, Shrimp?" His crimson eyes bore into her as she scrambled to her feet. "I can't leave you alone if you keep following me everywhere!" His hand went to the top of his head and he winced, Levy decided to ignore his grumpiness and instead went straight to get a look at his head.

"Have you hurt yourself?" She fretted and knelt up beside him parting his hair with her hands to see if there was a bump.

"What does it look like?" His expression was guarded as he pulled away from her hands and rested his face against the cool glass, his motion sickness was still killing him. He didn't see her shift closer to him.

"It looks like you hit your head." She deadpanned and huffed in frustration, staring at the back of his head. "Come on Gajeel, we need to talk. Civilly."

He didn't say a word.

"Fine then. I'll talk." She paused momentarily to give him the chance to engage – but he did not. "Okay so… I get that maybe I was sort of hurtful the other morning. But – even with that thick skull of yours – you must understand that I was a little bit surprised by your… reaction. I really didn't think I'd been leading you on by any means. But I do understand that that's how you felt – so I apologize for everything I did." She raised her gaze from her lap and realised that he had one crimson eye upon her.

"I'm uh… You're not all to blame, Shrimp, I guess." He shrugged his shoulders and repositioned his body to face her. "I was just in a weird place I guess. You being back and all – and in my bed. After being so…" He chose his next words cautiously. "Well you gotta admit Shrimp – you were flirtin' with me pretty dam hard." Levy kept her eye's on his face.

"It's true." She'd always bantered with Jet and Droy that way – although much more mildly. The time she'd spent away had made her bolder and poor Gajeel had been the victim of her period of readjustment to normal social interactions with her Guild Mates. "But I wasn't trying to seduce you or anything… I just thought we were being funny. I got a little caught up and-"

"I think we both did… Gihi!" His eyes were dancing and it made Levy smile slightly. She remembered waking up in his room and finding it to be empty. She had gone into the kitchen to get a glass of water and was barely awake when she ran into him – still damp and clad in only a towel.

"But I didn't try to kiss you." She pointed out and blanched at the memory.

"True." He allowed her. Indeed he had leaned down and attempted to kiss her which caused her to run away from him and screech profanities. "But you did make me feel like some sort of villain after your virtue. It hurt my feeling y'know, Shrimp." Levy's eyes widened at his honesty.

"I didn't mean to Gajeel. Honestly. I don't even really remember what we ended up saying. All I remember was that it was loud enough to wake Lily…" Levy looked around for Pantherlily again.

"Me either Short Stuff. Oh, and Lil's in another carriage. Said he couldn't deal with me when I was like this."

"Oh dear. It seems we're quite good at causing chaos when we're together." Levy giggled nervously.

"It's all we can manage, Shrimp. We're too different." He sighed heavily then.

"We bring out the worst in each other don't we?" She looked out the window to see the countryside flying past again.

"Not the worst, Shrimp. Maybe just the crazy…" She caught him smirking to himself.

"I think you're right. Probably best to stay away from each other then?" She saw a flicker of something pass over his face.

"Probably." He closed his eyes and ground his teeth together. "And it'll be easy since I think this damn train ride is probably going to kill me." He turned comically green and put his head in his hands eliciting a smile from the solid script mage.

"You're not going to die you big lug…" She rolled her eyes and got to her feet rummaging around in her satchel. Gajeel stretched out over the 3 seats and threw his arm over his face dramatically.

He felt as if he would throw up everything he'd ever eaten until he felt his head being moved gently and placed onto he was certain could only be Levy's lap. Then he just felt as if he had been paralysed.

"What're you doin' Shrimp." He looked at her incredulously as she smiled down at him waving a leather bound book in the air.

"I'm going to try and take your mind off this motion sickness. Think of it as my way of making up for being awful. And then you can do something nice for me and we'll be even." All he could do was look flabbergasted as she opened up the book. "I'll read to you for a while, how does that sound?"

"Uhm, fine. I guess." He fixed his gaze on the ceiling, trying to stare past her. He understood what she was trying to do. But he just felt awkward. Until she started to read that is.

"Harp of the North! that mouldering long hast hung…On the witch-elm that shades Saint Fillan's spring… And down the fitful breeze thy numbers flung, Till envious ivy did around thee cling, Muffling with verdant ringlet every string, - O Minstrel Harp, still must shine accents sleep?" Her voice was sweet and calm. Like a breath of fresh air. But he didn't understand some of the words and it was making him feel like some dumb bastard - like the salamander.

"The hell you trying to pull, Shrimp?" He started to get up but Levy merely hit him on the face with the book, laying it out over his sneer.

"Just listen for now, Iron Breath. I promise you'll like it!" He huffed and lay still which earned him a good natured tap on the face with the book. "Well done Mr Dragon Slayer! I think we may be making progress. And the poems called The Lady of the Lake by the way. I forgot to mention that part."

"The whole goddamn book!" He'd thought poems were short.

"Of course, and it's beautifully written so shut up." He was getting on her nerves now. "But if you'd rather I left then-"

"Nah, just read the goddamn book will ya, Shrimp." She was quiet for a moment but continued with her reading without a reply.

Her voice washed over him and somehow took him closer and closer to the peace of the waterfall near to his favourite training spot. It was the only way he could describe it. She transported him to the only place that held true serenity for him in this fucked up world. It made sense to him now that she be a solid script mage – she had a way of giving power to words.

He drifted before too long. His nausea forgotten.

Levy's smile was devilish as she observed Gajeel – snoring in her lap. It filled her with glee at the prospect of claiming that she was able to lull the great iron brute to sleep. And she could do anything.

"Perhaps Lu-chan has a marker I could…" She whispered giddily to herself, her mind running away with the image of Gajeel marching through the station glaring at everyone with a wonderful moustache and a monobrow. It was small-time, but it would certainly set him off. She'd probably end up getting to fight him… But she'd better not do anything to break his trust just yet – no matter how much it would make her laugh.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the door to the next train car swung open and Pantherlily waddled through. He was so small that she would have missed him had she not been sitting in an isle seat. His face was serious but upon seeing Levy his eyes filled with warmth. She greeted him with equal warmth, a bright smile and a small wave.

"Lily! Where did you go?" He hopped up on the chair facing her and eyed her with amusement.

"I left the Dragon to roar by himself. I'm his cat – not his keeper." He raised an eyebrow and motioned to where Gajeel lay, sprawled out and drooling over the blunette's lap. "Although perhaps he has found a keeper in you. I'm assuming you offered to let him use you as a pillow? Were you reading to him?"

Levy's brow furrowed as she turned away from her friends gaze, pouting like a child and clutching her book. "I am absolutely not this imbecile's keeper. You saw our- uhm- fight Lil.' I'm only trying to make myself feel better about being rude to him. Even if he did deserve it…"

"Whatever you say Levy."

"Lily!" Levy blushed furiously. "You sit in my lap all the time!"

"Ah yes… But like I said. I'm a cat." Levy blanched at Pantherlily's triumphant expression. He sat straight backed with his little arms folded in front of him.

"You're making me sound like some sort of pervert!" She almost jumped up and shoved the iron brute away but somehow the peaceful expression on his face stopped her. Her breath caught in her throat and she looked up at Lily in panic.

"Don't misunderstand Levy – I don't think you're perverse. Just caring." Lily then held up his small paws in surrender with a jolly smile and jumped down from the seat again. "Jellal and Erza reckon we'll be getting to the station within and hour or so. They told me to get you all back into line and ready to depart. So, do that." He wandered off towards the carriage that Levy had left earlier and just for a moment when the door was opened – she heard literal screaming. Natsu must have woken up.

Peace was returned when the door swung shut meaning both she and the snoring brute were alone once more. Looking around the empty carriage she couldn't help but feel ashamed in that moment. Heat began creeping up her face and she felt aware of every inch of her body and how she held it.

"You know Gajeel – you're a lot heavier that I must have been to Ms Kira." Levy sighed and stretched her arms above her head before allowing herself to relax back into the seat. It was much easier to talk to him when he was unconscious. "It must be that big fat metal head of yours. Heh."

With her eyes closed she allowed herself to picture the little apartment above the bookstore where she'd lived as a child; it was easy to imagine herself back there with her own small body resting in the lap of the only parental figure she had ever known whilst she recited sweet words from delicate pages.

"She lead me out of my sadness Gajeel, with all of her books and kindness, perhaps I could do the same for you. But only if I treat you carefully. You may be brutish and cruel – but people go deeper than the words used to describe them. People are more than the boxes they are placed in." The blunette glanced down at his studded face with compassionate eyes. "You deserve books and kindness too... And I promise not to expose you to my freaky side anymore – because you clearly don't find it funny." She patted his head and laughed breathlessly for a moment.

Time ticked away as the train kept on speeding forward and Levy knew that they must be nearing their stop.

Erza and Jellal had passed by not long ago on their way to see everyone. Much to their amusement, Levy had blushed at their raised brows but made no attempt to move from her position.

"He's put my leg to sleep. I literally can't feel it anymore." She stared intently at her left foot as if willing it to move but it only hung limp. This made Erza smile but sent Jellal into a fit of shoulder shaking laughter.

"Is he drooling Levy?" Jellal rasped out, holding his stomach whilst Erza rolled her eyes at him.

"Of course not!" She had been watching out for drool and he had yet to do so. Just easy breathing and occasional mumbling about 'Devil-woman' and 'Salamander'. She eyed each of them with a humorous twinkle: "And just what were you two doing along there all this time anyway?" The laughter dried up and Jellal let out a small cough.

"I don't like what you're insinuating, boy." Jellal began, channelling his inner Master Falcon, and then explaining the situation. He'd gone to the other carriage to get in contact with Meredy, who had made a full recovery, and was heading to the Guild. The arrangement was that if this group had not returned after 3 moon cycles she would bring another team to come in after them. This was in case contact became a problem at any point.

The two exited the carriage like Pantherlily before them and Levy decided she'd better wake the brute up. Erza had estimated that they were twenty minutes away from the station so he wouldn't have to feel sick for long.

"It's been a nice change you know. I like you when you're quiet and sweet looking. Usually you're frowning like you want to bite- eek!" Levy threw her hands up over her mouth and stared down to see piercing red eyes and a glowering expression. Oh no. "Oh, uhm, hey there sleepyhead…" He sat up quickly and held the side of his head, clearly overcome with nausea yet again. Levy took her chance to put some space between them and jumped off the chair and backwards.

"How long did ya' let me sleep for, Shrimp?" He sneered at her as if she'd done something wrong.

"Well, we've only got a little time left until the journeys over. So I let you sleep for an appropriate amount of time don't you think? How does it feel that I've basically allowed you to time travel into the future and avoid hours upon hours of that motion sickness hell you end up in every time you travel!" She stormed back over to him and poked his forehead earning her a shocked inhalation of breath. "Why are you so grumpy, Iron Breath? You were being nice before."

With one studded eyebrow raised he wrapped one of her large hands around her delicate wrist and gently moved her arm away. "I'm always grumpy when I wake up." He lowered his gaze but continued to hold onto her wrist. Levy could not help but smile at his fierce expression.

"Try crazy." She looked down at his hand that had yet to drop. "May I have my arm back?" He released her immediately and his expression changed.

"So you took me time travelling eh?" The girls eyes widened and she blushed at his fanged smile.

"Yes. And you don't seem to be suffering any adverse side effects so I'd say was a successful trip." She was giggling at Gajeel' s incomprehension of the sentence when the train suddenly jolted to a stop causing her to fly forward and bump heads with the brute.

"Ouch!" She yelled upon impact with his seemingly metal skull. He also let out a cry but it was more one of surprise than of pain.

"I guess we're here then." He looked in mild concern at Levy who was clutching her head and wincing.

"Now I'm going to have a big bump you idiot!" She pouted and moved her hand away. Gajeels expression changed again to a look of utter shock and without warning he let out the loudest laugh she had ever heard from him. He had tears running down his face as he pointed at her forehead. Her yelling brought the other guild members running and they had to pull Levy away from the brute who just couldn't seem to get a hold of himself.

They had to haul her off the train kicking and shrieking to move onto the final leg of their journey in a questionable looking wagon.

"It isn't funny. They still hurt." Levy pouted and gently felt around the indents on her forehead that hadn't disappeared. All the team save Natsu and Gajeel, who had been banished to the roof along with with the luggage, were squished together in the back of a wagon that was taking them on the final leg of the journey way up into the mountains. Most of them had fallen asleep but Levy, Lucy and Juvia were still wide awake.

"Juvia finds it incredibly funny Levy-chan." The water mage whispered so as to avoid waking up the sleeping team members and looked sideways at a giggling Lucy.

When Levy and Gajeels heads had crashed together on the train, his eyebrow studs had indented her forehead and the marks had yet to go away. Everyone but Levy found it hilarious and in a cruel twist of fate this seemed to be what had brought their little team together. Instead of ripping out each other's throats separately they joined together in making fun of her. Even Jellal and Gajeel had bonded over it.

"Are we there yet?" Levy pouted and shuffled down in her seat. Lucy – who was sitting directly across from the solid script mage – patted her knee and giggled.

"It'll probably be soon." She looked out the small window where the sky was dark. Levy saw her nod slightly and then turn back to face the blunette. "I'm proud of you Levy-chan."

"What?" Levy brow furrowed at her friends declaration. "I just apologised to the brute. And injured myself in the process."

"You did way more than that." The blonde shook her head gently and looked sideways at the water mage who had just pushed a snoring Gray away from her with disgust when his head had lolled onto her shoulder.

"Juvia remembers what she and Phantom Lord did to Fairy Tail." The blunettes body trembled and she looked serious for a moment. "And afterwards you all accepted Juvia like family. But what Gajeel did to you in particular Levy-chan – for you to befriend him afterwards took great compassion and courage." Levy shifted under the two girls eyes and looked down at her clasped hands in her lap.

"Or supidity." She mumbled. What was with everyone lately? "I ended up runni- leaving because of how he made me feel. I rejected him." 'And every conversation I have seems to revolve around him' was what dawned on her.

"And thank Mavis you did." Lucy's eyes sparked fiercely. "He needed someone to give him a good kick. He's a colossal idiot – maybe not as big an idiot as Natsu – but Gajeel comes from a place of darkness and fear. And you…" She let it hang. Levy couldn't tear her eyes away.

"Juvia thinks you are the only one who can save him from himself." The blunette was taken aback by her friends heartfelt words. "Yes. Juvia's never seen anyone so obsessed or possessive before!"

And then unbridled sound erupted from Levy and Lucy who shook their heads as tears began to fall and snorting laughter burned their throats. The other team mates began to stir as the girls could not control themselves. Juvia giggled quietly unsure of what was so hilarious.

"What's on earth is going on?" Charle's haughty and tired voice questioned just as the wagon came to a violent stop.

Everyone plunged either forwards or backwards and from the narrow window in front of Levy she could see two bodies (belonging to their male dragon slaying duo) thrown from their place on the roof along with the teams luggage.

"Bastard!" Yelled the salmon haired dragon slayer who bounced up like a jack in the box and lit up the dark with angry flames.

"Not again?" Rasped Gajeel who just lay on the ground in a daze.

It seemed that they had arrived.

The rest of the team scrambled quickly out the wagon which pulled away so fast that Pantherlily – who was still inside – had to fly out the door of it whilst it was moving.

"Thank you!" Levy waved off the unusually silent driver. She knelt down beside Lily who landed by her feet. "Are you okay Lil'"

"I'm fine. He was certainly charming." Lily remarked with his little paws folded.

"He was reluctant to come here on a full moon. But I had Lucy convince him to take us." She giggled and stood up straight. "Jellal?"

"Hmm?" He turned towards her after telling the group to grab their luggage.

"I can't see the moon. It's too cloudy!" She walked quickly over to where Wendy had sat done upon her trunk.

"Don't worry." He attempted to grasp Erza's massive amount of luggage but nearly tore his arm off when he attempted to grab it. The scarlet haired knight giggled uncharacteristically at his sheepish expression. "We'll find it, Levy."

"Shall we-" Erza was about to suggest that they move when the clouds dispersed revealing the moon in all its glory. "-go?"

The group looked at each other nervously. That was spooky.

"We'll walk up a little further to get a better view." Jellal suggested and hauled his own satchel over his back and adjusted the hood of his cloak. He had relented to the fact that Erza was capable of wheeling her own luggage but Levy was unfortunately not that lucky.

"Would you like some help Levy?" Wendy asked her politely as she jumped off her trunk.

"Don't worry. I got it for sure." She smiled brightly and went to take the side handle only to have her tiny hand knocked sideways by a giant studded one. "Didn't you here me? I got it." She didn't even look up at him.

"I don't think so, Shrimp." He hauled it up on to his shoulder in one swift movement and his face turned sour. "The hell you even got in here?" He growled as she jumped up like an idiot to try and knock it off his shoulder as he walked forward with his stupid giant legs. She could hear Juvia arguing with Gray up ahead as well as Lucy complaining that Natsu had left his bag with her to run off ahead with Happy.

"I have-" She started.

"Books. You got books. Gihihihi" She stared at the back of his head fiercely, anger welling up inside. He was trying to help – but he was being a dick about it. She had an idea.

"Solid Script: IRON GOLEM FIST." Her small clenched hand shot up in the air as the tiny iron words swirled around her fist. She then plunged it full force into the side of Gajeels calf – she had read about pressure points before – and watched in glee as he yelped and tumbled over. "I'll carry my own damn luggage, Iron breath." She rushed over and grabbed her trunk tugging it away quickly. She felt a rush of adrenaline when he raised his head at her – his eyes burning with rage.

"What was that for!" He bared his teeth at her in rage as he yelled and struggled to get to his feet.

"Well violence seems to be the only way to communicate clearly with you." She was practically running away from him and increased her speed in fear when he sprung to his feet.

Gajeel was furious that she had managed to knock him down. He had only been trying to help. He watched as she sped away from him and he stopped momentarily to listen to her laughing and witness her playful expression when she looked back over her shoulder at him. How had that tiny shrimp packed such a punch with those delicate hands.

"I ain't stupid!" He caught up quickly when she stopped suddenly and he was so engrossed with her small form that he missed what was happening in front of them. "How'd you pack a punch like that, Shorty."

"Shh Gajeel. Look". The blunette was pointing forward to a great shuddering mountain that's summit seemed to have the moon sitting upon it.

There was white mist everywhere around it; swirling and writhing upwards. It engulfed the mountain right to the tip and seemed to lay there for a few moments. The team stared at it awkwardly and in silence – waiting for what would happen next in the unearthly display.

Suddenly the mist seemed to retreat off the mountain and rush outwards onto the surrounding valleys like magma rushing off the side of a volcano. Although it was far swifter than that; perhaps taking only 10 seconds to get to where they were standing.

"Watch out!" Cried Lucy who grabbed Wendy and shielded her eyes. The rest of the team acted in defence also and closed their eyes and turned away. Levy was knocked off her feet and she heard someone scream something unintelligable. An almighty rumble shook the ground and a crack echoed through the air that sounded like thunder hitting stone. A gust of air rushed past them.

The team then realised that they were not in pain and reopened their eyes.

Both Lucy and Wendy (with Charle in her arms) opened their eyes to see Natsu staring back at them with his arms stretched out as wide as his grin and his hands engulfed in flames. Lucy blushed and Wendy began to cry in fright.

Jellal, Erza and Happy had jumped behind the mass of luggage that the scarlet knight carted around with her on missions. Their hands had entwined and Happy had attached himself to Erzas head.

Juvia and Gray had bumped heads in an attempt to grab each other protectively and were now staring blankly into space and holding their heads whilst Pantherlily in battle form fretted over them.

Levy realised then that it hadn't been the mist that had knocked her off her feet but Gajeel. The mist was harmless but he was hovering over her with a crazed expression that made her squirm slightly. He was still a kinda scary guy. She looked side to side and saw his arms beside her face as well as his hair which seemed to form a curtain around her. He had managed to completely cover her from the imaginary danger. He had tried to protect her once again. She smiled up at him and raised a hand to his chest to gently nudge him in the right direction. He threw himself off her and got to his feet whilst holding out a hand to haul her up. She took it gratefully and thanked him. Once she was upright she looked around her feet to see that the mist was ankle deep.

"Levy…" Gajeel's gruff voice was serious and she looked up towards him. She realised that she was still clinging onto his hand.

"Sorry!" She pulled her hand away but he shook his head.

"Eh- no. I didn't mean that, Shrimp." He scratched his head awkwardly.

"The mountain!" Yelled Gray pointing into the distance, his shirt gone and his trousers hanging unbuttoned and dangerously low. How had he time to do that when Erza hadn't even managed to requip?

The huge mountain that mere seconds ago nearly touched the moon had been split right down the middle with each half falling away from the other leaving a huge triangular shaped space that allowed you to see beyond into an expansive canyon with lush trees and a river running along the centre. Not only that, but you could clearly a clearing in which there was buildings.

There were collective gasps and excited murmurs. There was a town right there. A town that appeared to them in the mist.

"It's real." Gasped Jellal. "Everyone is seeing this right?" He looked sideways at the rest of the group.

"There's certainly a town down there…" Erza nodded supportively.

"What happened to the mountain?" Wendy wondered in a small voice clutching Charle to her chest.

"It split in two." Charle deadpanned as Levy rushed forwards and then stopped.

"Obviously." Lucy rolled her eyes and clung onto Natsus arm. "I don't have a good feeling about this." He looked down towards her and spoke a few words of comfort.

"We found it! We're actually here!" Levy's glee overtook everything as she jumped up and down like a small child.

"And clearly somethings going on." Jellal continued on. "Our mission isn't for nought."

"Let's get going then, shall we?" Pantherlily, still in battle form, stepped up beside Levy who clasped her hands together and danced on the spot.

"Yes." She gathered herself and turned to the group of people she and Jellal had hand picked for this very mission. A mission that could very well be dangerous – but you wouldn't know that from the determined smiles on each of their faces. Everyone was ready to tackle this mystery. "To Brigadoon we go!" She yelled and took off running like a madwoman towards the pathway that had formed between the two halves of the mountain.

Gajeel was the last to leave. He hauled up the heavy box onto his shoulder and jogged after the crazed group. In her excitement, Levy had forgotten her trunk.

Thanks for reading!

Il'll have another update at some point!

(I don't know when - but it will happen!)